Reducing hole bezel region in displays

ABSTRACT

A device includes: an array of light emitting elements extending in a first plane, each light emitting element being arranged to emit light; an array of pixel driver elements extending in a second plane beneath the array of pixels, in which each pixel driver element is configured to drive a corresponding light emitting element of the array of light emitting elements; a hole positioned within the array of light emitting elements and the array of pixel driver elements, in which the hole extends from the first plane through the second plane, a first multiple of light emitting elements from the array of light emitting elements in a first region adjacent the hole are arranged to provide a first resolution, and a second multiple of light emitting elements from the array of elements in a second region away from the hole are arranged to provide a second resolution.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to reducing hole bezel regions indisplays.

BACKGROUND

Smart devices, such as smartphones, include active areas, where a usermay interact with the display of the device (e.g., through a touchscreen). Smart devices may also include bezel areas that occupy space onthe display and that are not used as part of the active areas. In somecases, smart devices also include openings or holes under the displayfor accepting components, such as cameras.

SUMMARY

In the case of smart devices that includes holes beneath the displaypanel for components such as cameras, there remains a boundary region,sometimes referred to as a bezel region, between the active area of thedisplay and the hole, in which this boundary region is used for routingcontrol lines, such as light emitting element control lines and pixeldriver control lines, around the hole. Because of the number of controllines that need to be routed around the hole, this boundary region canbe relatively large, and may occupy, in some cases, distances of severalmillimeters from the edge of the hole or from the edge of an encapsulantoverflow region encircling the hole.

In general, in some aspects, the subject matter of the presentapplication is embodied in a display device that reduces and/oreliminates the boundary region near the hole, and therefore increasesthe active area of the display device, by interspersing the controllines, which are routed around the hole, among the light emittingelements in a first region near or adjacent to the hole. In certainimplementations, interspersing the control lines among the lightemitting elements in the first region includes modifying the arrangementof the light emitting elements in the first region so that the firstregion exhibits a first display resolution. Further away from the holein a second region, the light emitting elements are arranged to exhibita second different display resolution. Since the second region does nothave to accommodate routing control lines around holes, the displayresolution of the second region can be greater than the displayresolution of the first region.

The first region may be arranged such that light emitting elements inthe first region are positioned within a first plane and directly overcontrol lines extending along a second plane parallel to the firstplane, without the light emitting elements being positioned directlyover a corresponding pixel driver element. In contrast, light emittingelements in the second region are positioned directly or at leastpartially over a corresponding pixel driver element.

In general, in other aspects, the subject matter of the presentdisclosure may be embodied in devices that include a display panel, inwhich the display panel includes: an array of light emitting elementsextending in a first plane beneath the display panel, the light emittingelements being arranged to emit light to a front side of the displaypanel; an array of pixel driver elements extending in a second planebeneath the array of pixels, in which the second plane may be parallelto the first, and the pixel driver elements are configured to drive thelight emitting elements, respectively, of the array of light emittingelements; a hole positioned within the array of light emitting elementsand the array of pixel driver elements, in which the hole extends fromthe first plane through the second plane, a first multiple of lightemitting elements from the array of light emitting elements in a firstregion adjacent the hole are arranged to provide a first displayresolution, and a second multiple of light emitting elements from thearray of elements in a second region away from the hole are arranged toprovide a second display resolution, the second display resolution beinggreater than the first display resolution.

Implementations of the devices may have one or more of the followingfeatures. For example, in some implementations, each one of the pixeldriver elements may be configured to drive a corresponding one of thelight emitting elements. Light emitting elements in the first region maybe positioned directly over control lines extending along the secondplane without being positioned directly over a corresponding pixeldriver element. The control lines may include light emitting elementcontrol lines and pixel driver element control lines. Light emittingelements in the second region may be positioned at least partially overa corresponding pixel driver element. Light emitting elements in thesecond region may be positioned directly over a corresponding pixeldriver element. The first region may extend around the hole, e.g., thefirst region may encircle the hole. The display panel may include anencapsulant overflow region extending from the first plane to the secondplane and positioned between the hole and the first region, in which theencapsulant overflow region is devoid of light emitting elements, pixeldriver elements, and control lines, and in which the encapsulantoverflow region extends outwardly from the hole along the first andsecond planes for at least 0.5 mm. The first region may include multiplecontrol line via regions distributed adjacent to light emittingelements, in which in the control line via regions, control linestransition from the first plane to the second plane. The control linevia regions may be defined by an area that is approximately the same asan area occupied by a single light emitting element or by a single pixeldriver element. The first display resolution may be less than or equalto 300 pixels per inch. The second display resolution may be greaterthan 300 pixels per inch. The second display resolution may be greaterthan 600 pixels per inch.

In some implementations, the hole includes a camera, a microphone and/ora speaker. The hole may include a device configured to detectelectromagnetic radiation, such as an ambient light sensor or aproximity sensor. The hole may include a device configured to emitelectromagnetic radiation, such as an infrared emitter. The hole mayinclude more than one of the devices described above.

In some implementations, the encapsulant region and the hole define acircular area, and a diameter of the circular area is less than 4 mm.The diameter of the circular area may be less than 3 mm.

In general, in other aspects, the subject matter of the presentdisclosure may be embodied in a device that includes a display panel, inwhich the display panel includes: a first display region comprising afirst multiple of light emitting elements and a multiple of pixel driverelements, in which the first multiple of light emitting elements arearranged to provide a first display resolution within the first displayregion; a hole positioned within the display; a detour routing boundarydisplay region including a second multiple of light emitting elementsand a multiple of detour routing control lines, in which the multiple ofdetour routing control lines extend around the hole, the second multipleof light emitting elements are arranged to provide a second displayresolution within the detour routing boundary display region, and afirst light emitting element within the first multiple of light emittingelements and at least one light emitting element within the secondmultiple of light emitting elements are configured to be controlled by acommon pixel driver element within the first display region.

In general, different aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein maybe combined in a single device. For instance, a device can include oneor more light-emitting element-pixel driver sets in which a single pixeldriver element is provided to drive multiple light emitting elements,one of which is located above the pixel driver element (e.g., outside ofa detour routing boundary region) and one or more of which are locatedin a detour routing boundary region, e.g., near or adjacent to a holeand overlapping detour routing. The device further can include one ormore light-emitting element pixel driver sets in which a pixel driverelement (e.g., outside a detour routing boundary region) is provided todrive a single corresponding light-emitting element in the detourrouting boundary region that overlaps detour routing.

Implementations of the device may include one or more of the followingfeatures. For example, in some implementations, the first displayresolution is equal to the second display resolution. In someimplementations, the first light emitting element within the firstmultiple of light emitting elements and the at least one light emittingelement within the second multiple of light emitting elements aredirectly electrically coupled to a common electrode trace layer. In someimplementations, the detour routing boundary display region is devoid ofpixel driver control elements.

The detour routing boundary display region may extend at least partiallyaround the hole, e.g., the detour routing boundary display region mayencircle the hole. The first plurality of light emitting elements andsecond plurality of light emitting elements may extend in a first planebeneath the display panel. The plurality of pixel driver elements mayextend in a second plane beneath the light emitting elements.

The display panel may include an encapsulant overflow region extendingfrom the first plane to the second plane and positioned between the holeand the first region, in which the encapsulant overflow region is devoidof light emitting elements, pixel driver elements, and control lines,and in which the encapsulant overflow region extends outwardly from thehole along the first and second planes for at least 0.5 mm. The firstdisplay region may include multiple control line via regions distributedadjacent to light emitting elements, in which in the control line viaregions, control lines transition from the first plane to the secondplane. The control line via regions may be defined by an area that isapproximately the same as an area occupied by a single light emittingelement or by a single pixel driver element.

In some implementations, the hole includes a camera, a microphone and/ora speaker. The hole may include a device configured to detectelectromagnetic radiation, such as an ambient light sensor or aproximity sensor. The hole may include a device configured to emitelectromagnetic radiation, such as an infrared emitter. The hole mayinclude more than one of the devices described above.

In some implementations, the encapsulant region and the hole define acircular area, and a diameter of the circular area is less than 4 mm.The diameter of the circular area may be less than 3 mm.

In some implementations, a plurality of light emitting elements withinthe second multiple of light emitting elements are configured to becontrolled by a common pixel driver element within the first displayregion.

Various implementations of the subject matter disclosed herein mayinclude one or more of the following advantages. For example, in someimplementations, the lower display resolution region or regions stillhave enough display resolution that they do not adversely affect thereadability and perceived quality of the display. In someimplementations, providing the lower display resolution region with theinterspersed control lines allows a reduction in the bezel region,allowing for increased use of display area. In some implementations, byproviding light emitting elements in the detour routing boundary regionwhich are controlled by a pixel driver element within the first displayregion it is not necessary to remove light emitting elements in an areaoutside of the detour routing boundary region to accommodate controllines. This allows control lines to be accommodated without reducing thedisplay resolution, thereby allowing a reduction in the bezel region,allowing for increased use of display area.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features and advantages willbe apparent from the description, and drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic that illustrates a top view of an exemplarydisplay device.

FIG. 1B is a schematic that illustrates a cross-section of through A-Aof the device of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a schematic that illustrates a detailed configuration of anexemplary pixel region.

FIG. 1D is a schematic that illustrates a detailed configuration of anexemplary pixel region and an exemplary boundary region.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustrating a top view of an exemplary displaydevice.

FIG. 2B is a schematic illustrating an exemplary cross-section of adisplay device, such as the display device of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a schematic that illustrates a cross-section of a detailedconfiguration of an exemplary display device.

FIG. 3A is a schematic illustrating an exemplary cross-section of aportion of a display device corresponding to a single light emittingelement-pixel driver set.

FIG. 3B is a schematic that illustrates a cross-section of a moredetailed configuration of the exemplary light emitting element/pixeldriver element set shown in FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, in some aspects, the subject matter of the presentapplication is embodied in a display device that reduces and/oreliminates the boundary or bezel region near the hole, and thereforeincreases the active area of the display device, by interspersing thecontrol lines that are routed around the hole among the light emittingelements in a first region near or adjacent to the hole. In certainimplementations, interspersing the control lines among the lightemitting elements in the first region includes modifying the arrangementof the light emitting elements in the first region so that the firstregion exhibits a first display resolution. Further away from the holein a second region, the light emitting elements are arranged to exhibita second different display resolution. Since the second region does nothave to accommodate routing control lines around holes, the displayresolution of the second region can be greater than the displayresolution of the first region.

The first region may be arranged such that light emitting elements in afirst plane are positioned directly over control lines extending along asecond plane that is located beneath (and, e.g., parallel to) the firstplane, without being positioned directly over a corresponding pixeldriver element. In contrast, light emitting elements in the secondregion may be positioned directly over a corresponding pixel driverelement.

FIG. 1A is a schematic that illustrates a top view of an exemplarydisplay device 100. The display device 100 includes multiple pixels 102,each of which includes a light emitting element, such as an organiclight emitting diode. The pixels 102 are arranged in an array (e.g., atwo-dimensional array along the X and Y-directions) having a particulardisplay resolution. The light emitting elements of the pixels 102 may becontrolled by corresponding pixel driver elements, such as thin filmtransistors. The display 100 also includes control lines 104, 106 forcontrolling the light emitting elements and the pixel driver elements ofthe pixels 102. The control lines can include an array of control lines104 that extend horizontally across the array of pixels 102 (e.g., alongthe X-direction as shown in FIG. 1A), as well as an array of controllines 106 that extend vertically across the array of pixels 102 (e.g.,along the Y-direction as shown in FIG. 1A). The area in which the pixels102 are arranged may be understood to be the “active” area of thedisplay.

In some implementations, the display device 100 includes a hole 108around which the pixels 102 are arranged. The hole 108 can be used forreceiving a component of the smart device, such as a camera, microphoneor speaker. One or more other components may be included in the holeinstead. For example, in some implementations, the hole 108 may be usedto receive a device configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, suchas an ambient light sensor (e.g., a silicon photodiode) or a proximitysensor. Alternatively, or in addition, the hole 108 may be used toreceive a device configured to emit electromagnetic radiation such aninfrared emitter. There is a boundary region 110, also referred to as abezel or a “detour routing boundary region,” between the active area ofthe display in which the pixels 102 are positioned and the hole 108. Theboundary region 110 is used for routing the control lines 104, 106around the hole 108. The boundary region 110 does not include pixeldriver elements. The control lines 104, 106 within boundary region 110may also be referred to as detour routing lines. Because of the numberof control lines that need to be routed around the hole, this boundaryregion 110 can be relatively large, and may occupy, in some cases, adistance of several millimeters between the active area and the edge ofthe hole 108. The boundary region 110 may extend around the hole 108,e.g., the boundary region 110 may encircle the hole 108.

FIG. 1B is a schematic that illustrates a cross-section of through A-Aof the device 100 of FIG. 1A. The sizes of the features shown in FIGS.1A and 1B are not to scale. As shown in FIG. 1B, the display device 100includes a front panel 114 formed of a material transparent to lightemitted by the light emitting elements. For instance, the front panel114 may include a transparent polymer such as trifluoroethylene. Thefront panel 114 is secured to a back panel region that includes thepixels 102.

In the present example, each pixel 102 includes a light emitting element118 and a pixel driver element 120 (the light emitting element 118 andpixel driver element 120 may otherwise be referred to as a lightemitting element-pixel driver element set). The light emitting elements118 may include light emitting diodes such as organic light emittingdiodes (OLEDs), though other light emitting elements may be usedinstead. The light emitting elements 118 may be formulated to emit lightwithin an appropriate wavelength band (e.g., red, green, or blue light,or cyan, magenta, or yellow light). As disclosed herein, pixel driverelements may include circuitry required to drive light emittingelements. Such circuitry may include suitable hardware such as switches(e.g., thin film transistors), logic circuitry, capacitors, currentdriving circuitry, and the like that control the delivery of electricalcurrent to a light emitting element. A lower substrate (not shown)provides mechanical support and protection for the light emittingelements 118 and the pixel driver elements 120 and can include, e.g., atransparent polymer such as poly-ethyl terephthalate, and can supportone or more additional layers, such as a polyimide layer.

The light emitting elements 118 and pixel driver elements 120 of thepixels 102 are arranged across two planes that are parallel with thefront panel 114 and, e.g., parallel with one another. For example, thelight emitting elements 118 are provided in an array that extends in afirst plane 130 beneath the front panel 114, in which each lightemitting element 118 is arranged to emit light toward a front surface ofthe panel 114 (upper surface of panel 114 in FIG. 1B along the positiveZ-direction). Additionally, the pixel driver elements 120 are providedin an array that extends in a second plane 140 beneath the first plane130 (i.e. further from the front surface of the panel 114 than the firstplane 130). As shown in FIG. 1B, the pixel driver elements 120 arepositioned beneath (e.g., at least partially overlapped by or directlyoverlapped by) respective light emitting elements 118 in the first plane130 to form multiple corresponding pixel elements 102. Each pixel driverelement 120 may be configured to drive the light emitting element 118that directly or at least partially overlaps the pixel driver element120. The light emitting element 118 that directly or at least partiallyoverlaps a pixel driver element 120 may be referred to as acorresponding light emitting element 118. In some implementations,regions 170 within the first plane 130 include one or more insulatorlayers, transparent cathode layer, and encapsulant, but do not includelight emitting elements, pixel driver elements, or other control lines.

As explained with respect to FIG. 1A, the display device 100 may alsoinclude a boundary region 110 for providing space in which control lines104, 106 may be routed around the hole 108. As shown in FIG. 1B, theboundary region 110 may be defined by width 160. In someimplementations, the boundary region 110 can extend across both thefirst plane 130 and second plane 140.

As also shown in FIG. 1B, an upper surface of the light emittingelements 118 may be encapsulated by an encapsulant material 116.Encapsulant material 116 may include, e.g., a high-purity,low-volatile-outgas encapsulant, such as a silicone based material, thatis optically clear to help reduce degradation of the light emittingelements 118. In some implementations, during fabrication of the device100, the encapsulant 116 may overflow beyond the light emitting elements118 and control lines 104, 106 that the encapsulant 116 is intended tocover. Accordingly, the display device 100 also may include, in somecases, an encapsulant overflow region (also referred to as processdependent margin) 112 extending through both the first plane 130 and thesecond plane 140 and positioned between the hole 108 and the active areathat includes the pixels 102. The encapsulant overflow region 112 isdevoid of light emitting elements, pixel driver elements, and controllines. The encapsulant overflow region 112 may extend outwardly from thehole 108 along the first plane 130 and along the second plane 140. Theboundary region 110 and the encapsulant overflow region 112 togethermay, in some cases, be understood as a bezel region 150 of the device.In some implementations, a width of the bezel region 150 (extendingoutwardly within plane 130 away from an edge of the hole 108 in FIG. 1B)is at least several millimeters. The boundary region 110 extendsoutwardly away from the encapsulant overflow region 112 and has a width160 (extending outwardly within plane 130 away from an edge of the hole108 in FIG. 1B) between about 0.1 and about 3 mm, and therefore takes upspace that could otherwise be used as an active area of the display. Theregion 170 located above the boundary region 110 and beneath theencapsulant 116 and front panel 114 may include one or more insulatorlayers. In certain implementations, the region 170 is void of controllines, light emitting elements or pixel driver elements.

FIGS. 1C and 1D are schematics that illustrate cross-sections of moredetailed configurations of an exemplary display device. In particular,FIG. 1C is a schematic that illustrates a detailed configuration of anexemplary pixel region, such as pixel region 102 in FIG. 1B, whereasFIG. 1D is a schematic that illustrates a detailed configuration of anexemplary pixel region 102 and an exemplary boundary region 110, such asboundary region 110 in FIG. 1B. The configurations shown in FIGS. 1C-1Dare examples of light emitting element display structures and do notlimit the design, number, or type of layers of the pixel regions or theboundary regions within a device.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the pixel region may be divided generally into twoplanes: a first plane 130 and a second plane 140. The first plane 130may be a volumetric portion of the device located above and generallyparallel to the second plane 140. The first plane 130 may include, e.g.,a light emitting element 118, such as an OLED or other LED, one or moreinsulating layers 132, 134, and one or more contacts 136, 138 for thelight emitting element 118. Insulating layers disclosed herein may beformed of an inorganic insulating layer. For instance, an insulatinglayer may be formed of a single layer or multiple layers formed of oneof SiO₂, SiNx, SiON, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, Ta₂O₅, HfO₂, ZrO₂, or lead zirconatetitanate (PZT). The second plane 140 may be a volumetric portion of thedevice that includes, e.g., a pixel driver element for the lightemitting element 118, as well as one or more insulating layers. Both thefirst plane 130 and the second plane 140 are situated beneath theencapsulant layer 116 and the front plane 114. The light emittingelement 118 is positioned at least partially over the pixel driverelement within the second plane 140 without extending over the controllines 104, 106 of the boundary region 110. The contacts for the lightemitting element 118 include a cathode 138 and an anode 136. The cathode138 and anode 136 may be highly electrically conductive materialsincluding, e.g., metals. The metals of the contacts may be metals thatare transparent to visible light such as, e.g., indium tin oxide.

As an example, the pixel driver element may include multiple layers ofmaterial, including one or more insulating layers, one or more metallayers and one or more semiconductor layers. For instance, in theexample in FIG. 1C, the pixel driver element within plane 140 includes asemiconductor layer 148, such as an amorphous silicon layer, that formspart of a thin-film transistor. The semiconductor layer 148 may beformed on a substrate 101. The pixel driver element further includes afirst insulating layer 146 covering the semiconductor layer 148, as wellas a metal layer 141 covering the first insulating layer 146. The firstinsulating layer 146 may be, e.g., a gate oxide, whereas the metal layer141 may be a gate for adjusting the current through the thin filmtransistor. The pixel driver element may further include a second metallayer 143 in direct contact with the semiconductor layer 148 andextending through multiple insulating layers. The second metal layer 143may be coupled to the drain or gate of the thin film transistor, whilealso in direct electrical contact with an electrode of the lightemitting element 118, such as the anode 136. The pixel driver elementmay include additional insulating layers, such as layers 142, 144.Though the pixel driver element/control element is described in theexample of FIGS. 1C-1D as having particular insulating layers, metallayers and semiconductor layers, more or fewer layers may form the pixeldriver element. Furthermore, the reference to planes herein, such asfirst plane 130 and second plane 140 provides a general characterizationof the arrangement of the light emitting elements with respect to thepixel driver elements within the display. The particular number oflayers within each plane is not restricted to the examples disclosedherein. Further, in some cases, layers formed within one plane mayextend across into another plane. For instance, insulating layer 134 maybe understood to extend into both the first plane 130 and the secondplane 140. However, the light emitting element 118 is generallyunderstood to be positioned above (e.g., further away from the substratealong the Z-direction in FIG. 1D) the pixel driver element. Forinstance, the light emitting element 118 may overlap (e.g., partiallyoverlap) the pixel driver element/control element.

To reduce and/or eliminate the unoccupied space of the boundary regionnear the hole, and therefore increase the active area of the displaydevice, at least some of the light emitting elements of the displaydevice may be re-positioned closer to the hole. In a particular example,some of the light emitting elements may be positioned directly over there-routed control lines and/or over the re-routed control lines withinthe boundary region. In this way, the re-routed control lines within theboundary region appear, from a top view, to be interspersed among thelight emitting elements in a first region near or adjacent to the hole.In certain implementations, interspersing the control lines among thelight emitting elements includes modifying the arrangement of the lightemitting elements in the first region so that the first region exhibitsa first display resolution. Further away from the hole in a secondregion, the light emitting elements are arranged to exhibit a seconddifferent display resolution. Since the second region does not have toaccommodate routing control lines around holes, the display resolutionof the second region can be greater than the display resolution of thefirst region.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustrating a top view of an exemplary displaydevice 200 that incorporates the modification. Similar to the displaydevice 100, display device 200 includes pixels 202 arranged in an array,control lines 204 extending horizontally (e.g., along the X-direction)across the array, control lines 206 extending vertically (e.g., alongthe Y-direction) across the array, a hole 208, and an encapsulantoverflow region 212. The control lines 204, 206 may also be referred toas detour routing lines 204, 206. In place of the boundary region 110from FIG. 1, one or more first regions 250 (e.g., regions 250 a, 250 b),next to the hole 208 and the encapsulant region (also referred to asprocess dependent margin) 212, are provided, in which multiple lightemitting elements 218 in the first regions 250 are arranged to provide afirst display resolution. Away from the hole 208 and encapsulant region212, a second region 260 is provided, in which the light emittingelements 218 are arranged to provide a second display resolution, withthe second display resolution being greater than the first displayresolution of the first region 250.

The reason the display resolution of the first region 250 is lower thanthe display resolution of the second region 260 is because the lightemitting elements 218 in the first region 250 are laterally spaced apart(e.g., along the Y and X-directions) and away from the correspondingpixel driver elements 220 so as to occupy space within the formerboundary region (e.g., boundary region 110 in FIG. 1A). For instance, asshown in FIG. 2B, which is a schematic illustrating an exemplarycross-section of device 200, the light emitting elements 218 again arearranged in an array that extends along a first plane 230 and the pixeldriver elements 220 again are arranged in an array that extends along asecond plane 240. However, in the first region 250, each light emittingelement 218 is positioned directly over the detour routing control lines204, 206 extending along the second plane 240, rather than directly overthe corresponding pixel driver element 220 that powers the lightemitting element 218. The region 270 over the pixel driver element 220,in contrast, may include one or more insulator layers and transparentelectrode layer but does not include light emitting elements, pixeldriver elements, or other control lines. In this way, the detour routingcontrol lines 204, 206 may occupy generally the same region as thedisplay device 100, but now the boundary region may be used as part ofthe active area of the display, thus reducing the amount of dead orunused space within the boundary region by creating a region of lowerdisplay resolution.

It is still the case that, in the first region 250, a light emittingelement 218 is driven by a corresponding pixel driver element 220 (inwhich the light emitting element 218 and pixel driver element 220 areotherwise referred to as a light emitting element-pixel driver elementpair). Thus, for the first region 250, each light emitting element 218and its corresponding pixel driver element 220 may be understood as aseparate pixel element. The display resolution of the first region 250may be less than or equal to 300 pixels per inch such as, e.g., 250pixels per inch, 200 pixels per inch, 150 pixels per inch, or 100 pixelsper inch, among others.

Additionally, as in the display device 100, the encapsulant overflowregion 212 is devoid of light emitting elements, pixel driver elements,and control lines, and extends outwardly from the hole 208 along thefirst and second planes 230, 240.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the first region 250 extends entirely around thehole 208. However, in some implementations, the first region 250 extendsonly partially around the hole 208. In some implementations, there aremultiple first regions 250 having the interspersed light emittingelements with a first display resolution that is less than a displayresolution of the second region 260 as described herein. The multiplefirst regions 250 may be non-contiguous, e.g., they may be spaced apartfrom one another around the hole 208.

The second region 260 outside of the first region 250 includes multiplelight emitting elements 218 that are arranged to provide a seconddisplay resolution, in which the second display resolution being greaterthan the first display resolution. This is because the second region 260that is further away from the hole 208 does not have to accommodatere-routing/detour control lines. In the second region 260, each lightemitting element 218 in the first plane 230 is positioned directly overa corresponding pixel driver element 220 in the second plane 240 to forma separate pixel element 202. The display resolution of the secondregion 260 may be greater than 300 pixels per inch including, e.g., 350pixels per inch, 400 pixels per inch, 450 pixels per inch, 500 pixelsper inch, 550 pixels per inch, 600 pixels per inch, 650 pixels per inch,700 pixels per inch, or 750 pixels per inch, among others. Although FIG.2B shows the detour routing 204, 206 positioned beneath the lightemitting elements 218 in the first region 250, in some implementations,one or more of the detour routing 204, 206 can be positioned to traverseover the light emitting element 218, e.g., one or more of the detourrouting 204, 206 can be positioned in the first plane 230 with the lightemitting element 218, and/or a light emitting element 218 can bepositioned in the second plane 240. To allow the detour routing 204, 206to traverse from the first plane 230 to the second plane 240, the firstregion 250 may include multiple control line via regions distributedadjacent to light emitting elements 218, in which in the control linevia regions, detour routing 204, 206 transition from the first plane 230to the second plane 240. In some implementations, the control line viaregions may be defined by an area that is approximately the same or lessthan an area occupied by a single light emitting element 218 or by asingle pixel driver element 220.

By forming the display device to include multiple different displayresolution areas in which the control lines can be routed through thelower resolution area, it is possible to increase the size of the activearea of the display and reduce the amount of dead space that is not usedfor the active area. For instance, the region unusable for the activearea in FIG. 1A may be approximated as a circle having a diameter ofgreater than 4 mm including, e.g., a diameter of 5 mm, 6 mm or 7 mm,among others. However, the region unusable for the active area in FIG.2A (which includes the encapsulant overflow region 212 and the hole 208)may be approximated as a circle having a diameter that is equal to orless than 4 mm, such as equal to or less than 3 mm.

FIG. 2C is a schematic that illustrates a cross-section of a moredetailed configuration of an exemplary display device according to thepresent disclosure. In particular, FIG. 2C is a schematic thatillustrates a detailed configuration of a relatively low displayresolution region, such as region 250 b in FIG. 2A, in which the lightemitting element 218 within the region 250 b is laterally displaced soas to be positioned directly over detour routing control lines 204, 206instead of over the pixel driver element, such as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.The configuration shown in FIG. 2C is an example of a light emittingelement display structure and does not limit the design, number, or typeof layers within a display device.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the display device may include one or moreinsulating layers 232, 234, and one or more contacts 236, 238 for thelight emitting element 218. The contacts for the light emitting element218 include a cathode 238 and an anode 236. The cathode 238 and anode236 may be highly electrically conductive materials including, e.g.,metals. The metals of the contacts may be metals that are transparent tovisible light such as, e.g., indium tin oxide.

The pixel driver element 220 may include multiple layers of material,including one or more insulating layers, one or more metal layers andone or more semiconductor layers. For instance, the pixel driver element220 includes a semiconductor layer 248, such as an amorphous siliconlayer, that forms part of a thin-film transistor. The semiconductorlayer 248 may be formed on a substrate 201. The pixel driver element 220further includes a first insulating layer 246 covering the semiconductorlayer 248, as well as a metal layer 241 covering the first insulatinglayer 246. The first insulating layer 246 may be, e.g., a gate oxide,whereas the metal layer 241 may be a gate for adjusting the currentthrough the thin film transistor. The pixel driver element 220 mayfurther include a second metal layer 243 in direct contact with thesemiconductor layer 248 and extending through multiple insulatinglayers. The second metal layer 243 may be coupled to the drain or gateof the thin film transistor, while also in direct electrical contactwith an electrode of the light emitting element 218, such as the anode236. The anode 236 extends laterally away from the region 220 in whichthe pixel driver element is formed to a position located directly abovethe detour routing 204, 206 where the light emitting element 218 isprovided. The pixel driver element may include additional insulatinglayers, such as layers 242, 244. Though the pixel driver element isshown in the example of FIG. 2C as having particular insulating layers,metal layers and semiconductor layers, more or fewer layers may form thepixel driver element. Further, other pixel driver element designs may beused instead. In regions 260, which are far from the hole, theconfiguration of the light emitting element-pixel driver element pairsinstead may be constructed as shown in FIG. 1C, in which the lightemitting element 118 is formed generally in the region of the pixeldriver element and does not overlap the detour routing control lines.

Other arrangements of the display device that reduce or eliminate thedead space of the detour routing boundary region are also possible. Forinstance, in some implementations, the emissive area of a light emittingelement-pixel driver element pair can be divided into multiple emissiveelements, each of which is controlled by the same pixel driver element.A first one of the emissive elements remains positioned outside of thedetour routing boundary region and over the pixel driver element thatpowers the first emissive element. One or more of the other emissiveelements that are powered by the same pixel driver element may bepositioned within the detour routing boundary region over detour routinglines. As a result, the dead space of the detour routing boundary regioncan be reduced while maintaining a relatively high display resolutionboth in the detour routing boundary region and outside of the detourrouting boundary region.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematics that illustrate examples of aconfiguration in which multiple emissive elements are provided in alight emitting element-pixel driver element set. FIG. 3A is a schematicillustrating an exemplary cross-section of a portion of a display devicecorresponding to a single light emitting element-pixel driver set 300.Similar to the display devices 100 and 200, the display device of thepresent implementation includes pixels arranged in an array, as well ascontrol lines extending both horizontally (e.g., along the X-direction)and vertically (e.g., along the Y-direction) across the array.Additionally, the display device of the present implementation alsoincludes a hole (not shown in FIG. 3A) around which is located a detourrouting boundary region 305 where the control lines are diverted, againsimilar to display devices 100 and 200. As in other implementations, thedetour routing boundary region 305 may entirely or partially surroundthe hole within the display. The display device may include encapsulantoverflow region similar to that described above.

In contrast to the light-emitting element-pixel driver element sets ofthe display devices 100 and 200, however, the emissive area for set 300is divided into at least two separate light emitting elements. Inparticular, in the example shown in FIG. 3A, the emissive area of set300 includes a first light emitting element 318 a and a second lightemitting element 318 b. The first light emitting element 318 a ispositioned generally over and in the same region (e.g., outside of thedetour routing control region) 303 of the display as the pixel driverelement 320. The second light emitting element 318 b is positionedwithin the detour routing boundary region 305 and over detour routinglines 310. In other words, a first light emitting element within a firstregion 303 that includes the pixel driver elements and at least onelight emitting element within the detour routing boundary region 305that includes the detour routing control lines are configured to bepowered by a common pixel driver element within the first region 303. Asa result, unlike the display devices 100 and 200, there is no reductionin display resolution in the area 303 of the display outside of thedetour routing boundary region 305 that would otherwise be caused bymoving a light emitting element directly over detour routing controllines. Instead, the resolution can remain the same throughout the area303 of the display that is outside of the detour routing boundary region305, as well as in the detour routing boundary region 305. Although onlyone light emitting element/pixel driver set having the construction 300is shown in FIG. 3A, a display may include multiple sets having the sameconstruction may be employed in a display. The first light emittingelement 318 a and the second light emitting element 318 b extend in afirst plane 330 beneath the display panel. The pixel driver element 320and the detour routing lines 310 extend in a second plane 340 beneaththe light emitting elements 318 a, 318 b.

In some implementations, the total current (and thus power) delivered tothe multiple generally same size light emitting elements (e.g., lightemitting elements 318 a and 318 b) driver by a single pixel driverelement is the same as would be delivered to a pixel's emissive areaconstituted by a single light-emitting element. Accordingly, in somecases, the light output of each of the multiple light emitting elementsthat are driven by a single pixel driver element is reduced relative tothe light output by a single light emitting element driver by a singlepixel driver element. For instance, in the example shown in FIG. 3A,each of the first light emitting element 318 a and the second lightemitting element 318 b is driven by pixel driver element 320 and eachemits a luminance that is equal to about ½ to the total luminance ifonly a single light emitting element were used instead.

Although FIG. 3A shows just two light emitting elements driven by asingle pixel driver element, additional light emitting elements may beused as well. In such cases, the luminance of the each light emittingelement is reduced proportional to the number of light emitting elementsdriven by a single pixel driver element. For instance, in some cases,the emissive area driven by a single pixel driver element is constitutedby three, four, five, or 10 separate light emitting elements. In suchcases, the luminance is reduced relative to the case of one lightemitting element by ⅓, ¼, ⅕, or 1/10, respectively. In otherimplementations, the decrease in luminance caused by increasing thenumber of light emitting elements driven by a single pixel driverelement can be compensated by having the pixel driver element increasethe drive current relative to pixels having a single light emittingelement and single pixel drive element. Thus, for example, a singlepixel drive element (e.g., pixel driver element 320) that drives twoseparate light emitting elements (e.g., light emitting element 318 a andlight emitting element 318 b) can increase the current delivered to bothof the separate light emitting elements so that the luminance exhibitedby each of the light emitting elements equals the luminance exhibited bya pixel constituted by a single light emitting element and a singlepixel driver element.

FIG. 3B is a schematic that illustrates a cross-section of a moredetailed configuration of the exemplary light emitting element/pixeldriver element set 300 shown in FIG. 3A. In particular, as shown in FIG.3B, two light emitting elements (first light emitting element 318 a andsecond light emitting element 318 b) are provided and coupled to asingle pixel driver element 320. Each of the light emitting elements mayinclude, e.g., a light emitting diode, such as an organic light emittingdiode. The first light emitting element 318 a is positioned in an area303 of the display device that is outside of the detour routing boundaryregion 305. The first light emitting element 318 a may be positioned atleast partially over a corresponding pixel driver element that isconfigured to control the first light emitting element 318 a. In theexample of FIG. 3B, the pixel driver element may be formed on asubstrate 301 as a thin film transistor that includes insulating layers342, 244, a gate metal 341, a gate insulator layer 346, a semiconductorlayer 348, and an anode electrode 343. Though the pixel driver elementis shown in the example of FIG. 3B as having particular insulatinglayers, metal layers and semiconductor layers, more or fewer layers mayform the pixel driver element. Other pixel driver element designs may beused instead.

The second light emitting element 318 b is positioned in the detourrouting boundary region 305. The second light emitting element 318 b maybe positioned over a group 380 of one or more detour routing controllines 304, 306. The second light emitting element 318 b and the firstlight emitting element 318 a may both be electrically coupled to thesame pixel driver element. For instance, an anode trace layer 336 may beformed on insulating layer 334 and provide a common electricalconnection from the pixel driver element to both the first lightemitting element 318 a and the second light emitting element 318 b. Theanode trace layer 336 may be formed from an electrically conductivematerial, such as a metal layer, or a transparent electricallyconductive material, such as ITO. Accordingly, the anode trace layer 336provides a direct electrical connection from the pixel driver element toboth elements 318 a and 318 b. Both of the first light emitting element318 a and the second light emitting element 318 b also may beelectrically coupled to a common cathode trace layer 338. The cathodelayer 338 may be formed from an electrically conductive material, suchas a metal layer, or a transparent electrically conductive material,such as ITO. Accordingly, the cathode trace layer 338 provides a directelectrical connection to both elements 318 a and 318 b. The displaydevice may include one or more insulating layers, such as insulatinglayers 332 and 334 to support the light emitting elements, the anodetrace layers, and/or the cathode trace layers. The anode trace layersand the cathode trace layers may each be referred to as the electrodetrace layers, and may be configured to provide electrical connections toelectrodes of the light emitting elements 318 a, 318 b. Though FIG. 3Bdepicts only a single light emitting element (light emitting element 318b) formed in the detour routing boundary region 305 and electricallyconnected to the pixel driver element, multiple light emitting elementsthat are driven by the same pixel driver element may be formed withinthe detour routing boundary region 305. For instance, in someimplementations, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 light emitting elements, may beformed within the detour routing boundary region 305 and electricallycoupled to a common pixel driver element that is located outside of thedetour routing boundary region 305 in region 303. Because additionallight emitting elements can be located in the detour routing boundaryregion without needing to remove the light emitting elements in an areaoutside of the detour routing boundary region, the display resolution ofregion 305 may be designed to be the same as the display resolution ofregion 303. Further, the display resolution of regions 303 and 305 maybe designed to be the same as the display resolution of regions of thedisplay (not shown) further away from any holes. Furthermore, similar tothe display devices 100 and 200, the detour routing boundary region ofthe exemplary configuration covered by FIGS. 3A-3B, such as region 305,may include detour routing control lines but no pixel driver elements.In contrast, the area outside of the detour routing boundary region,such as region 303, may include light emitting elements, control lines,and pixel driver elements.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodimentsare within the scope of the following claims. For example, a device caninclude combinations of configurations covered by the disclosurerelating to FIGS. 2A-2B and FIGS. 3A-3B. In particular, a device caninclude one or more light-emitting element-pixel driver sets in which asingle pixel driver element is provided to drive multiple light emittingelements, one of which is located above the pixel driver element (e.g.,outside of the detour routing boundary region) and, one or more of whichare located in a detour routing boundary region, e.g., near or adjacentto a hole and overlapping detour routing, such as in FIGS. 3A-3B. Thedevice further can include one or more light-emitting element pixeldriver sets in which a pixel driver element (e.g., outside a detourrouting boundary region) is provided to drive a single correspondinglight-emitting element in the detour routing boundary region thatoverlaps detour routing, such as in FIGS. 2A-2B.

1. A device comprising a display panel, wherein the display panelcomprises: an array of light emitting elements extending in a firstplane beneath the display panel, the light emitting elements beingarranged to emit light to a front side of the display panel; an array ofpixel driver elements extending in a second plane beneath the array ofpixels, wherein the pixel driver elements are configured to drive thelight emitting elements, respectively, of the array of light emittingelements; a hole positioned within the array of light emitting elementsand the array of pixel driver elements, wherein the hole extends fromthe first plane through the second plane, wherein a first plurality oflight emitting elements from the array of light emitting elements in afirst region adjacent the hole are arranged to provide a first displayresolution, and a second plurality of light emitting elements from thearray of elements in a second region away from the hole are arranged toprovide a second display resolution, the second display resolution beinggreater than the first display resolution.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the light emitting elements in the first region are positioneddirectly over control lines extending along the second plane withoutbeing positioned directly over a corresponding pixel driver element, andthe control lines comprise light emitting element control lines andpixel driver element control lines.
 3. The device of claim 1, whereineach light emitting element in the second region is positioned directlyover a corresponding pixel driver element.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein the first region extends around the hole.
 5. The device of claim1, wherein the display panel comprises an encapsulant overflow regionextending from the first plane to the second plane and positionedbetween the hole and the first region, wherein the encapsulant overflowregion is devoid of light emitting elements, pixel driver elements, andcontrol lines, and wherein the encapsulant overflow region extendsoutwardly from the hole along the first and second planes for at least0.5 mm.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first resolution is lessthan or equal to 300 pixels per inch.
 7. The device of claim 1, whereinthe second resolution is greater than 300 pixels per inch.
 8. The deviceof claim 7, wherein the second resolution is greater than 600 pixels perinch.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a camera. 10.The device of claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a microphone or aspeaker.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a deviceconfigured to detect electromagnetic radiation.
 12. The device of claim11, wherein the device configured to detect electromagnetic radiationcomprises an ambient light sensor or a proximity sensor.
 13. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a device configured to emitelectromagnetic radiation.
 14. The device of claim 13 wherein the deviceconfigured to emit electromagnetic radiation comprises an infraredemitter.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the encapsulant region andthe hole define a circular area, and a diameter of the circular area isless than 4 mm.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the diameter of thecircular area is less than 3 mm.
 17. A device comprising a displaypanel, wherein the display panel comprises: a first display regioncomprising a first plurality of light emitting elements and a pluralityof pixel driver elements, wherein the first plurality of light emittingelements are arranged to provide a first display resolution within thefirst display region; a hole positioned within the display; a detourrouting boundary display region comprising a second plurality of lightemitting elements and a plurality of detour routing control lines,wherein the plurality of detour routing control lines extend around thehole, wherein the second plurality of light emitting elements arearranged to provide a second display resolution within the detourrouting boundary display region, and wherein a first light emittingelement within the first plurality of light emitting elements and atleast one light emitting element within the second plurality of lightemitting elements are configured to be controlled by a common pixeldriver element within the first display region.
 18. The device of claim17, wherein the first display resolution is equal to the second displayresolution.
 19. The device of claim 17, wherein the first light emittingelement within the first plurality of light emitting elements and the atleast one light emitting element within the second plurality of lightemitting elements are directly electrically coupled to a commonelectrode trace layer.
 20. The device of claim 17, wherein the detourrouting boundary display region is devoid of pixel driver controlelements.